Charnwood Forest Geopark Visiting Artist Programme

LU Arts, Loughborough University’s arts programme, is working in partnership with Charnwood Geopark to offer three artists the opportunity to engage with the unique environment that has been identified as a future UNESCO Geopark.

The aim of these short residencies is to offer artists with an interest in geology, history and the environment, the opportunity to make connections with the site and research some of its interesting histories and unique properties. We hope that this period of research will help develop individual practices and support creative responses to the site.

What is the Visiting Artist opportunity?

Visiting Artists will be paid a fee of £1,000 each plus travel expenses and accommodation (if required). In return they are expected to spend four days researching, visiting and responding to the Charnwood Forest Geopark. Please see the dedicated web page on the LU Arts website for more information on the Geopark.

At the end of the four days the artists are also expected to deliver a small output that is informed by their research. This could be (but is in no way limited to) a lecture, a workshop, and installation, a walk or performance. We want the output to physically engage with the Geopark so it would need to take place in or around the Geopark itself. There is a budget of up to £500 for any production costs associated with this activity.

LU Arts will be able to facilitate meetings with relevant individuals working in the Geopark, related academics within Loughborough University, or users of the site that makes up the Geopark.

We are particularly interested in hearing from artists whose practice has an interest in geology, environment, and social history. We are also looking for practices where research and collaboration is a key part of the process.

These residencies are an opportunity to start an engagement with the Geopark and will help support further funding bids to develop a larger scale commissions programme that responds to the site.

Timescales

Deadline for expressions of interest: 12pm on Monday 4 September 2023

Online briefing (with Charnwood Geopark and associated partners): Tuesday 12 September 2023, 2pm

Tour of Charnwood Forest Geopark: Tuesday 19 September 2023

Research work undertaken: mid September – late October 2023

Artist output completed: 31 October 2023

Please note that you are expected to be available for the online briefing and the tour of the site. If this presents a problem then please contact us in advance of submitting an expression of interest by emailing N.Slater@lboro.ac.uk.

Accessibility

We want this opportunity to be accessible to all and will do our best to accommodate any specific access requirements. If you would like to discuss any accessibility issues in advance of applying or to discuss how the opportunity can be made inclusive for you, then please email LUArts@lboro.ac.uk or call 01509 222948. We understand that travelling to the campus may not be possible for everyone (including those artists with caring responsibilities) and fully support online collaboration where most appropriate.

How to apply

Please supply images of up to five artworks or links to video content along with a brief expression of interest. Images should be formatted as JPEGS no larger than 1MB each. Expressions of interest can be in text form (no more than 250 words) or video (no longer than 2:30 minutes). Please incorporate your expression of interest (text or link to video) and the images and/or links to video content of your work within a single PDF document.

The expression of interest is simply to capture your first ideas, thoughts and responses to the call out; we are not looking for in-depth proposals. Please email your expression of interest to N.Slater@lboro.ac.uk.

Contact us

We have tried to outline some possible areas of focus, modes of collaboration, as well as offer some context for this programme. If you are interested in applying but are not sure whether your practice or ideas are a good fit, or have any other questions, please email Nick Slater, Director of LU Arts at N.Slater@lboro.ac.uk.